Council decides not to close laneway

Gosford Council's Local Traffic Committee has resolved not to close the unnamed laneway that runs east from Springwood St between Bourke Rd and Karingi St, Ettalong.

Council, at its meeting held on March 6, adopted a Traffic Committee recommendation of February 6 that recommended the proposed closure of the laneway be placed on public exhibition seeking public comment and that a letter box drop be carried out to all affected residents.

Following the public exhibition and letterbox drop to affected residents Council received 82 submissions including 71 signatures contained on two petitions.

Thirty four of the submissions supported the proposal while 48 objected to the proposed closure.

Submissions supporting the proposed closure stated that the laneway was a share way, not just vehicle access and people using the access way were in danger on a daily basis and that the closure would be a good move as it would make the laneway area safer.

Submissions objecting to the proposal stated that it would be an inconvenience and menace to access properties by local residents and visitors, and access by emergency vehicles would be restricted as they may be unable to gain access to a front entrance to one of the properties.

The Roads and Maritime Service crash database has shown that there were no reported crashes in the laneway in the five year period (2006-2010).

Gosford Council Agenda TR.12.40, 4 Sep 2012